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Nuclear Enterprise: Clearer Guidance Could Improve Joint Professional Military Education Nuclear Deterrence Curriculum
GAO-25-107416
Sep 18, 2025
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3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff updates the guidance on enduring and periodic special areas of emphasis to explicitly define nuclear deterrence to aid all intermediate- and senior-level JPME programs' development of JPME curricula with nuclear deterrence content. (Recommendation 1)
Open
DOD partially concurred with this recommendation. DOD concurred that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff should update the JPME guidance for enduring special areas of emphasis to define nuclear deterrence. However, DOD did not concur with the aspect of this recommendation related to updating the JPME guidance for periodic special areas of emphasis, noting that periodic special areas of emphasis are subject to a 2-year time-frame restriction. We continue to believe that the recommendation to update the JPME guidance for periodic special areas of emphasis is valid, because this will allow JPME programs to more effectively develop curricula to meet requirements if additional nuclear deterrence-related periodic special areas of emphasis are identified in the future. We will monitor DOD's efforts to fully address this recommendation.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff updates the guidance on enduring and periodic special areas of emphasis to require all intermediate- and senior-level JPME programs to incorporate the definition of nuclear deterrence into relevant JPME curricula. (Recommendation 2)
Open
DOD partially concurred with this recommendation. DOD concurred that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff should require all intermediate- and senior-level JPME programs to incorporate the definition of nuclear deterrence into relevant JPME curricula for enduring special areas of emphasis. However, DOD did not concur with the aspect of this recommendation related to updating the JPME guidance for periodic special areas of emphasis, noting that periodic special areas of emphasis are subject to a 2-year time-frame restriction. We continue to believe that the recommendation to update the JPME guidance to incorporate the definition of nuclear deterrence for periodic special areas of emphasis is valid, because this will allow JPME programs to more effectively develop curricula to meet requirements if additional nuclear deterrence-related periodic special areas of emphasis are identified in the future. We will monitor DOD's efforts to fully address this recommendation.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff sets a specific time frame for implementation—including for conditional and full certification—of the outcomes-based military education system by all intermediate- and senior-level JPME programs. (Recommendation 3)
Open
DOD partially concurred with this recommendation. DOD concurred that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff should set a specific time frame for implementation of the outcomes-based military education system. However, DOD did not concur with the aspect of the recommendation related to a connection between setting a specific implementation time frame for the certification of JPME programs and nuclear deterrence learning outcomes. We recognize that DOD is taking actions to update JPME guidance to set a time frame for certification of all intermediate- and senior-level JPME programs, and when we confirm what actions DOD has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Department of Education: Gaps in Federal Student Aid Contract Oversight and System Testing Need Immediate Attention
GAO-25-107396
Sep 09, 2025
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7 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Education The Secretary of Education should direct the Chief Operating Officer of FSA to take steps to improve its contract monitoring process to provide assurance that the contractor performs the work called for in the contract for FPS and develops a clear record of accountability for performance. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm whether the agency has taken action in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Education The Secretary of Education should direct the Chief Operating Officer of FSA to establish a process to validate the contractor performance reports it receives. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm whether the agency has taken action in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Education The Secretary of Education should direct the Chief Operating Officer of FSA to establish a process to ensure that assessments of contractor performance are documented in accordance with departmental guidance. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm whether the agency has taken action in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Education The Secretary of Education should direct the Chief Operating Officer of FSA to take steps to ensure that all personnel performing program and project management activities and functions for the FPS contract obtain the appropriate FAC certifications. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm whether the agency has taken action in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Education The Secretary of Education should direct the Chief Operating Officer of FSA to take steps to establish a process to ensure that all personnel performing contract oversight roles and responsibilities are provided with training related to the project management framework of the contract they are overseeing prior to contract execution. (Recommendation 5)
Open
When we confirm whether the agency has taken action in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Education The Secretary of Education should direct the Chief Operating Officer of FSA to develop a standard or update its existing standard to include test case criteria for testing the FPS system that align with leading practices. (Recommendation 6)
Open
When we confirm whether the agency has taken action in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

K–12 Education: DOD Needs to Assess Its Capacity to Provide Mental Health Services to Students
GAO-25-107247
May 14, 2025
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6 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness should direct the DODEA Director to assess the capacity of its workforce to provide the continuum of behavioral supports indicated in its MTSS framework. This assessment should consider the capacity of school psychologists and school counselors. (Recommendation 2)
Open
DOD partially concurred with this recommendation and noted that it had already assessed school-level staffing to ensure that responsibilities were appropriately positioned to support the strategic instructional needs of students. In August 2025, DOD stated that it would additionally conduct a workforce capacity assessment in 2026 to evaluate staffing needs and role alignment for behavioral supports within the MTSS framework. Such an effort would help DOD ensure that it has the workforce capacity to provide the continuum of behavioral supports indicated in its MTSS framework, in line with our recommendation. We look forward to updates on this effort.
Department of Defense The Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness should direct the DODEA Director to develop a plan based on the results of its workforce assessment to address any identified gaps in workforce capacity that could hinder the success of its MTSS initiative. (Recommendation 3)
Open
DOD partially concurred with this recommendation, noting that the MTSS framework is intended to evolve over time through cycles of continuous assessment, which allow for identification and reaction to structural barriers. In August 2025, DOD stated that would identify solutions for any capacity gaps it identifies through its 2026 planned workforce capacity assessment. We will monitor the outcome of DOD's planned assessment.
Department of Defense The Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness should direct the Director of Military Community Support Programs to evaluate the MFLC program's use in DODEA schools, seeking feedback from DODEA headquarters staff and school leaders, and develop a plan to address any areas of concern identified through its evaluation. (Recommendation 4)
Open
DOD agreed with this recommendation. DOD has an ongoing multi-step project to assess the MFLC program's use and effectiveness across all locations. The project includes locations where Child and Youth Behavioral (CYB)-MFLCs serve military children. DOD also noted a recent report commissioned by Military Community Support Programs that examined military-connected children in military child development centers, youth programs and schools with military populations served by CYB-MFLCs. We await further progress on this recommendation.
Department of Defense The Secretary of the Army should direct the Director of the Directorate of Prevention, Resilience, and Readiness to evaluate the ASACS program's use in DODEA schools, seeking feedback from DODEA headquarters staff and school leaders, and develop a plan to address any areas of concern identified through its evaluation. (Recommendation 5)
Open
DOD did not agree with this recommendation, stating that it believed that upcoming efforts to improve collaboration between ASACS counselors and DODEA school leaders rendered the recommendation superfluous. While collaboration is not a substitute for evaluation, DOD later stated in September of 2025 that the ASACS program would sunset after the 2025-26 school year. As such, DOD stated that this recommendation was no longer warranted. We will monitor the status of the ASACS program and update the status of this recommendation as warranted.
Department of Defense The Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness should direct the Director of the Defense Health Agency to evaluate the School Behavioral Health program's use in DODEA schools, seeking feedback from DODEA headquarters staff and school leaders, and develop a plan to address any areas of concern identified through its evaluation. (Recommendation 6)
Open
DOD agreed with this recommendation, stating that it would evaluate the program as part of the standardization of the School Behavioral Health program. In August 2025, DOD described several ongoing efforts to address this recommendation, including by creating an evaluation plan for the School Behavioral Health program's use in DODEA schools and analyzing its results to develop a plan to address identified concerns. Such steps could help DOD identify opportunities for improvement and take steps to address them. We look forward to future updates on DOD's progress in implementing this recommendation.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should direct the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness to assure that the ASACS, MFLC, and School Behavioral Health programs collaborate to align their services to meet DODEA student mental health needs. In doing so, and in line with leading practices on federal collaborative efforts, the programs should define common outcomes, identify and sustain leadership for the effort, and involve relevant stakeholders, including DODEA. (Recommendation 7)
Open
DOD agreed with this recommendation, stating that the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness would assume responsibility for aligning ASACS, MFLC, and School Behavioral Health program efforts. In August 2025, DOD stated that it would establish a Joint Mental Health Collaboration Task force composed of ASACS, MFLC, DHA, and DODEA representatives to coordinate their efforts to improve service alignment, define shared objectives, and ensure sustained leadership engagement. We will monitor the progress of these efforts.

Special Education: Improved Allocation of Resources Could Help DOD Education Activity Better Meet Students' Needs
GAO-25-107053
Apr 17, 2025
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5 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness directs the DODEA Director to revise its special education staffing formulas to incorporate students' service minute requirements specified in IEPs among the factors it considers. (Recommendation 1)
Open
In March 2025, DOD partially concurred with this recommendation. In July 2025, DOD stated that it no longer concurs with this recommendation. Specifically, it said that DODEA reviewed its staff-to-student ratios in special education classrooms and found them to be lower than national averages. The agency also said that basing staffing allocations on a "simple tally" of IEP service minutes is operationally unfeasible. We agree that only using IEP service minutes to determine staffing allocations would not be appropriate, and we did not recommend doing so. However, required IEP service minutes provide critical information on the frequency and duration of services required to meet individual student's' needs. Further, they can vary widely among students. Moreover, at 13 of the 14 DODEA schools we visited-located in the three largest DODEA school districts, which collectively educate 50 percent of all DODEA students receiving special education services-school staff told us that basing staffing formulas solely on student headcounts does not allow staff to provide the required number of service outlined in students' IEPs. This is particularly significant, given that at all 14 schools we visited, DODEA school staff cited special education staffing shortages-and resulting heavy workloads-as an obstacle to educating students with disabilities. Moreover, they told us that staffing shortages impact the quality and frequency of services for students receiving special education. By allocating staff in a way that considers students' legally required IEP minutes, DODEA could better ensure that students receive the support to which they are entitled to make progress towards their educational goals.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness directs the DODEA Director to ensure that any special education paraeducators who work with students who may need behavioral supports receive crisis training. (Recommendation 2)
Open
DOD partially concurred with this recommendation. In July 2025, DODEA stated that it expanded its crisis training contract for all staff, beginning in school year 2025-2026. Additionally, DODEA said that it is implementing a centralized training completion tracking system to ensure consistent, agency-wide compliance and support for students and staff, and expects to complete these actions in January 2026. We will continue to monitor the agency's efforts in this area.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness directs the DODEA Director to provide supplemental instructional materials to special education teachers agencywide to help them adapt the general education curriculum for students with IEPs. (Recommendation 3)
Open
DOD partially concurred with this recommendation. In July 2025, DODEA stated that to enhance instructional quality for students with disabilities, it is undertaking an inventory of the agency's existing instructional resources, as well as launching professional learning modules in fall 2025 focused on specially designed instruction and evidence-based strategies in reading and math. Additionally, DODEA stated that prior to GAO's review, DODEA allocated funding for targeted reading materials in grades 3-5 and anticipated completing these corrective actions in June 2026. DODEA stated it would not pursue any singular, centralized purchases of supplemental instructional materials, because doing so may not account for the individualized nature of student needs and would require significant investment. We agree. However, there are other ways that access to supplemental materials could be made available agencywide. For example, DODEA could acquire special education instructional materials available for specific curriculum for teachers to tailor to students' individual needs. Teachers also suggested having a specialist dedicated to helping them find instructional tools to meet individual student needs. The fact remains that DODEA regional, district, and school-level staff representing the majority of DODEA students expressed significant concerns about the lack of access agencywide to instructional materials for tailoring special education to students' needs, noting that staff in some districts and regions had access while others did not. Further, special education teachers at 10 of the 14 schools we visited told us that the general curriculum materials they have do not meet their students' needs. We maintain that agencywide access to appropriate supplemental instructional materials would better help DODEA teachers to support their students while allowing them to tailor instructional materials to students' unique needs. Additionally, not having to constantly "reinvent the wheel", as some educators described it, it could allow teachers more time to teach and may improve the quality of support students receive. We will continue to monitor DODEA's efforts in this area.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness directs the DODEA Director to make more specialized reading interventions accessible across all DODEA locations to students with specific learning disabilities, including dyslexia, that impact their ability to read. (Recommendation 4)
Open
DOD partially concurred with this recommendation. In July 2025, DODEA stated that it is strategically investing in targeted reading interventions for grades 3-5 to address critical literacy development needs. DODEA stated that it anticipates completing this action in October 2025, and that this effort prioritizes students with disabilities during a pivotal academic transition period, while supporting DODEA's goal of fiscally responsible procurement. We agree this initiative will widen access to specialized reading interventions for students in grades 3-5. However, regional and district officials representing nearly 65 percent of DODEA students with specific learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, told us that it can be difficult to obtain specific reading interventions for dyslexia in their locations. While provided targeted reading interventions for grades 3-5 will help, it will not address the fact that some schools and districts have access to more specialized reading interventions while others do not. An approach that makes specialized reading interventions accessible across all locations would help ensure that students with reading-related disabilities receive the same opportunities to learn to read, regardless of which DODEA school they attend. We will continue to monitor DODEA's progress on these efforts.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness directs the DODEA Director to communicate its timeframes for its new procedural guidance on special education and what resources staff should use to interpret the DOD policy while that guidance is being developed. (Recommendation 5)
Open
DOD partially concurred with this recommendation. In July 2025, DODEA stated that it is launching a three-phased rollout of special education policies beginning in school year 2025-2026 that it expects to complete in October 2025. This will include updated procedures, professional learning and job aides for educators, and parent resources. DODEA said that it will communicate expected timeframes for its updated policies through weekly packets, and indicate that updated policies replace all previous guidance, as it becomes available. We still maintain that communicating what resources staff should use while DODEA updates policy would be helpful for staff providing special education. This is especially important since the policy updates will not be complete at the start of the school year, and school staff we spoke with said that existing policy is not clear or detailed enough to implement without additional guidance. We will continue to monitor DODEA's progress on these efforts.
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